'He's come back home.' Browns legend Vince Costello honored with new statue in Magnolia

MAGNOLIA ‒ Vince Costello is finally back home.

A new statue by Canton artist Patrick Buckohr depicting the Cleveland Browns star during his playing days has been erected on the corner of Basin and Carrollton streets, outside of the Vince Costello Memorial Sports Complex.

The statue was put into place on June 8.

“We waited and waited but it was worth the wait,” Magnolia Area Historical Society President Janet Rogers said.

Costello, Known as “The Pride of Magnolia,” was born in Dellroy in 1932, one of six children. His parents, Bartolomeo Giordonno and Celesta Menna were Italian immigrants who changed their last name to “Costello” upon entering the U.S. The Costellos moved to Magnolia in 1934.

In 1948, Costello led Magnolia High School’s six-man football team to an undefeated season as a quarterback. A three-sport athlete at Ohio State University, he played four seasons of professional baseball in the Cincinnati Reds system and played football while serving in the Air Force before joining the Browns at 25.

Costello was a starting middle linebacker for the Browns for 10 years and a member of its 1964 championship team. He joined the New York Giants in 1967 and 1968, where he was a team captain. He also served on the coaching staffs of the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins, and was defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, where he also owned a successful restaurant.

He died in 2019.

Magnolia approves Vince Costello project

It’s been a labor of love for old friends and schoolmates of Costello and members of the Magnolia Area Historical Society.

Rogers credited the late Donald Del Corso, who approached the Historical Society in 2022, with the idea to honor Costello. Del Corso died in 2025.

During Canal Days in 2022, more than 500 signatures were collected in support of a commemoration project. A committee consisting of Rogers, Del Corso, Tim Costello, Jim Miller, Bob Leach, Allan Tozzi, Megan Boyd Klinger and Claudia Rogers proposed designating the village’s park system as the “Vince Costello Memorial Sports Complex.”

The Village Council approved the change.

“The family is thrilled,” said nephew Tim Costello. “They’re really proud of him. He was great for Magnolia and great for football. He was more than just a football player, but I think it really depicts him well. It’s close to the Historical Society, so it’s a really good fit.”

Tim Costello said the committee has sent photos of the progress to his aunt Sally, who still resides in Kansas City.

He said Buckohr made a good choice in the pose.

“They were trying to find the right pose,” he said. “When (Vince) was in Magnolia, he played quarterback. In the NFL, he didn’t really carry the ball, he was a defensive guy. I thought that was interesting that they took the picture from when he was intercepting a ball in the 1964 championship against the Colts. It was right before halftime when they snapped that picture.”

Tim Costello said R.G. Drage vocational school in Perry Township is in the process of making a sign that will be affixed to the base. He added that some of the bricks made for the base have been distributed to the family.

He complimented Buckohr’s skill in depicting his uncle in action.

“You know, you never have two feet on the ground when you’re running, so that was his challenge,” he said. “Having one foot on the ground on this big 700-pound piece. Yeah, it looks great.”

Mayor Travis Boyd is also thrilled with the result.

“I love it. I think it’s incredible,” he said. “It’s impressive when you drive by, but there’s a lot of detail that the artist included.”

Boyd said he met Costello when he was about 10, and his family visited Costello’s restaurant in Kansas City.

“He invited us to his home,” he recalled. “He knew my mom and dad. It was pretty cool.”

Boyd lauded the Historical Society for its efforts.

“There are a lot of unsung heroes in that organization,” he said.

The statue project netted support from 100 donors. There were numerous fundraisers, including dinners at Cibo’s restaurant in Waynesburg, the Hall of Fame Luncheon Club, and Tozzi’s on 12th in Canton, which is owned by Michael and Chris Costello Tozzi, Vince Costello’s niece.

Donations also were made by the Stark County Foundation and the Dean G. and Jane G. Lauritzen Philanthropic Fund.

Buckohr said the project, which took him two years and two months to complete, was one of his most challenging works. He previously crafted a statue of the late golfer William Powell at the Minerva Public Library, and a firefighter outside of the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department.

“It was the most work I’ve ever put into a project,” he said. “Trying to do a portrait in steel is difficult; just the size and weight was a chore.”

Buckohr previously was commissioned to create two panels in Costello’s memory at the park on state Route 183, near where he grew up, and a third panel at the entrance of the Village Park. All three were dedicated on July, 20, 2024.

Buckohr offered kudos to the committee for its commitment.

“Those little towns like Minerva and Magnolia, they really care about their communities,” he said.

Rogers said Buckohr called her on the night of June 7 to let her know the statue was ready to be installed, but that they needed a crane.

“I thought, ‘Where am I going to find a crane on a Sunday night?” she recalled. “I called Jim Miller, who’s a member of Village Council and the Historical Society. He called Stanley Miller Construction.”

Rogers noted that Costello served as best man at her wedding 66 years ago. He and her late husband, Tony, who died in 2025, were close friends.

“He always said he wanted to return to Magnolia,” she said. “He lived in Kansas City because he was a coach there, but he came home often to visit his friends and family. It’s like, to me, he’s come back home.”

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com.

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: ‘He’s come back home.’ Browns legend Vince Costello honored with new statue in Magnolia